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"When you see something like this," she taps the hatch that fish come out of, "is your first thought whether or not you can fit?"
Argatha is glad when Xiramona manages to claim the clan dagger. ”Well done. Looks like he put up a bit of a fight.”
He returns to the group and is pleased Brimble is leading again. He hoists the heavy chest and follows the diminutive leader to a new hide-y hole for the Courageous. ”You think they’ll be safe here?” He shrugs, unsure himself, but it feels right. He’ll get into position to lower down the chest, and Brimble, when everyone is ready, hopefully with help.
If they have enough rope.
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"When you see something like this," she taps the hatch that fish come out of, "is your first thought whether or not you can fit?"
Brimble’s lips (such as they are) pull back to reveal some sharp teeth. It appears to be as close to a human smile as he can emulate. ”In here? Bet your pink ass it is! Just about the first thing I did when we climbed up here was check for empty pipes. Any mine needs air and it’s liked to be vented from above. That’s a great escape route or hiding spot, if things go wrong. More steel than a suit of armor and limits the angles and size of anyone coming for you. Good way to bypass somethin’ nasty you don’t wanna face, too.”
Bullets, Normal (10):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Arrows (15):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1):
Vengeance (1):
Effects:
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Argatha is glad when Xiramona manages to claim the clan dagger. ”Well done. Looks like he put up a bit of a fight.”
"She," Xira corrects almost absently, leaning a little on Em. "Not sure if 'fight' is the right word, but she is in a lot of turmoil."
His reply is so matter-of-fact, someone might mistake it for an attempt at humor. "I'm going to ride the bundle down and untie it, of course."
Xira blinks and blinks again, listening to Brimble expound on the usefulness of pipes as hiding places "Well. I wouldn't ask it of you, but if you're willing... Sounds like another good reason for Zenith and I to check it out first though."
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects: +1 alchemical bonus vs. disease, +2 bonus on Dex-based
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Singularly focused on the shrine for reasons she can't fully explain, Raka wipes off her hands with a satisfied finality when the work is done. Or, at least, as done as they can make it.
Somethin's missin' still, she muses to Bastion. Like the gods themselves are waitin' for a priest to come along an', I dunno, make it right again. Guess they're outta luck, though, 'cause there ain't no more...
Raka trails off and looks down at her hands. The dwarves had been gone for who knows how long, but it wasn't accurate to say their religion was gone too.
Faith in Trudd had just started back up again.
"Thanks everyone for pitchin' in with this," Raka addresses the group (except Brimble). "But I think there's one more thing to do for this place to be... I dunno... good again."
Raka clears her throat and puts a hand on the statue of Arkhoria Skywatch. "Uh... I bless this shrine in the name o' Trudd, who has for some reason decided he likes me. And in the name o' the other dwarven gods whose faiths, um, might be forgotten now, but... ya never know, could come back again. Through people like me." She pauses, feeling like the room is waiting for her to finish. "So says I."
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Raka clears her throat and puts a hand on the statue of Arkhoria Skywatch. "Uh... I bless this shrine in the name o' Trudd, who has for some reason decided he likes me. And in the name o' the other dwarven gods whose faiths, um, might be forgotten now, but... ya never know, could come back again. Through people like me." She pauses, feeling like the room is waiting for her to finish. "So says I."
"So say we all," Xira murmurs, unsure of where the response comes from. She steps to Raka's side and slides an arm around her waist (more conveniently situated than her shoulders) for a hug. "Well done."
As her eyes move from alcove to alcove, another thought bubbles up from nowhere. A memory in Lady Highcliff's voice: "One wonders what becomes of a god when all their worshippers are dead."
Though they're not all dead, are they? Perhaps the correct question is What does a god do when their worshippers are lost?
Maybe they search for help in unlikely places.
That thought Xira firmly sets aside for later.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects: +1 alchemical bonus vs. disease, +2 bonus on Dex-based
”You think they’ll be safe here?”
"Possibly. Nothing we can do is perfect, but I wonder if there's something we can do to make the hole harder to discover?" mused Colin.
Perhaps there was something that could be done, but Colin was coming up with blanks.
On a whim he decided to consult with The Professor, he explained what they where doing and asked ::Can you suggest any improvements to this plan?::
Em can't help but laugh a little at Brimble, though she can do nothing but admit that his endeavors to escape are very practical and well considered.
-----------
Em feels herself a little inspired by Raka's words. The dwarven gods hold a certain undeniable allure, and though Em can make no claim to carry their faith at the present, she wonders how long that will remain true.
:Are you the faithful follower of any dwarven god?
Bastion can only be felt, not seen, but Raka has the strong sensation that if her shield had a head, it would nod along with her vigorously as she repeats the words about Trudd.
:Yes, that's good! And in the name of Father Torag too. Well done!
Something does seem to shift, when the words have been said. The air seems cleaner and lighter, somehow. Perhaps you're all imagining it, but you could swear you almost hear the ghost of a relieved sigh gusting past your ear.
Brilliance-of-Heaven isn't as openly encouraging to Em as Bastion is to Raka, but the diadem does respond: :Oh, I cannot say I am terribly faithful at any thing! But wert I to choose, then only the fairest for me- bright Bolka, the creator's greatest gift to his children.
****
Back in the kitchen, once all are reunited there...
Xiramona peeks in the pipe to watch her lit stone plummet to the depths-- her sense of magic will be blocked in short order by the metal of the pipe itself, otherwise. It is difficult to judge exact distances when you are watching a tiny light get smaller at a very fast clip, but at the least you'd guess it drops at least forty feet away below you before you hear a tiny plop! as it hits the water. The lit stone continues to sink past that, and in another second or two, Xira can no longer see any gleam from it.
Zenith sighs at the suggestion of being lowered down the pipe shaft, but keeps objections to pointing out to Xira: :If you feel it is necessary, very well- but we will not be able to share senses in this manner again, to-day, so consider if now is the time you wish to use this.
Rune-that-Destroys speaks in Argatha's mind: :The other Courageous have no objections to this location. It is.... perhaps not the most dignified. But effective. They are ready.
Unaware of Xira’s telepathic conversation, Brimble tests the knot of the two connected ropes. Deeming it ‘good enough’, he ties up the bundle, making sure it will hang vertically. He talks mostly to himself or perhaps he’s sharing his thoughts with Houndsfang as he measures out about 10’ of rope from the bundle and ties it off with a slipknot to the strongest table leg or stanchion he can find. ”With luck the Courageous will stay hidden until the stoneborn return. They’ll get the systems running again and wonder why the fish aren’t coming up the pipe. When they investigate, they find the weapons.” He was making several assumptions but the rest of the team didn't need to know that.
He nods to Argatha and Raka. ”You two ready to be winches? Let’s get that bundle into the chute. Xira, can you light it up, please-and-thanks? I’d like to see where it goes when I let it loose.”
:Not terribly faithful? Then you must yield often to caprice. Perhaps that means you will yield to me.
Em watches Brimble prepare the ropes, and checks his quick release knot. Having once written that she could lead and tend to a horse (lie), and having tied up a few goats in her time (sad truth), she knows how such things should look. "No need to go into the water after that chest once it gets there. Sometimes you needn't be in the lead to guarantee safety, I think."
Brimble nods, "Agreed. I don't want to dangle like a worm on the end of the line. Those lights might make some big fish curious and my people are supposedly delicious. I'm just hoping to see how far the bundle drops."
:If you feel it is necessary, very well- but we will not be able to share senses in this manner again, to-day, so consider if now is the time you wish to use this.
:Mm, good point. I'll tell the others.
"Zenith has just told me that our ability to let me see her surroundings is a once-a-day thing." Her eyes narrow as she nibbles lightly on a thumbnail. "Which has me thinking that it would best be used on things goblin-related. Advance scouting and spying."
He nods to Argatha and Raka. ”You two ready to be winches? Let’s get that bundle into the chute. Xira, can you light it up, please-and-thanks? I’d like to see where it goes when I let it loose.”
"Consider it done." With that, Xira does indeed 'light up' the Courageous' container, the mellow glow brightening the room. She bounces a little on her toes, anxiously hoping that the crate will fall as easily and as far as the stone did.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects: +1 alchemical bonus vs. disease, +2 bonus on Dex-based
Raka clears her throat and puts a hand on the statue of Arkhoria Skywatch. "Uh... I bless this shrine in the name o' Trudd, who has for some reason decided he likes me. And in the name o' the other dwarven gods whose faiths, um, might be forgotten now, but... ya never know, could come back again. Through people like me." She pauses, feeling like the room is waiting for her to finish. "So says I."
"Wise words," Phantrel murmurs. "A little kindness and a little respect goes a long way, in the house of gods as much as anywhere else."
While the others prepare to lower Brimble and the sentient relics they have sworn to protect down the pipe, Phantrel feels, not for the first time, like a spare part. And not even a replacement cog that could make an effective substitute for one of the others, more a loose leaf, drifting in the wind and brushing up uselessly against machines of metal and gears. At least the cleaning of the shrine was something he felt his skillset, such as it is, was a suitable fit for.
With the rest of the group occupied, he removes himself slightly and steels himself for the conversation he'd promised to have. The sword at his hip has remained silent and as much as speaking with the blade has been a lesson in hectoring and humility, he must admit he was beginning to get a little worried. Figuring that now is as a good a time as any, and that demonstrating that they are carrying out their duty to the other Courageous is not going to hurt, he gently probes. :Thunder-follows-Lightning? I know you have been resting but is there anything I can help with?:
When The Professor was silent in response to his question, Colin sighed inwardly wondering if he'd somehow offended it. The plan was the best they had, certainly it was safer than trying to reach deep water, so he watched the proceedings with curiosity.
"She," Xira corrects almost absently, leaning a little on Em. "Not sure if 'fight' is the right word, but she is in a lot of turmoil."
”She. Right. Sorry.” Argatha apologizes for his lapse of memory.
"... So says I."
”Thanks Raka. That was very nicely said.”
Argatha adds, ”Rune-that-Destroys says the Courages are fine with this hiding place. Not great, but the best of bad options I suspect. Should be safe though - good find Brimble.”
He does his part to lower the chest, with Brimble on it, down to the water. When Brimble is ready to come back up, he hoists!